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Dover Athletic's ex-Chelsea and Leicester City Academy winger Michael Gyasi still hopes to play in the Football League one day

Michael Gyasi still harbours ambitions of playing in the Football League one day after joining Dover.

The attacker had a whirlwind start to life in football as he was signed by Chelsea, aged just 11, before also playing for Leicester at youth level.

Michael Gyasi runs at the Southend defence during his King's Lynn days. Picture: Ian Burt Photography
Michael Gyasi runs at the Southend defence during his King's Lynn days. Picture: Ian Burt Photography

He now plies his trade at the bottom-end of the National League, though, and last week signed for Andy Hessenthaler’s team on loan until the end of the season from fellow league strugglers King’s Lynn.

But 21-year-old Gyasi, who started his career at Northampton before he signed by Chelsea for an undisclosed fee, hasn’t given up hopes on his Football League dream just yet.

“That’s, obviously, my dream and that’s my wish,” he admitted.

“So I’ll just keep working hard because you never know what will come from it.”

The forward made his Whites debut as they beat Eastleigh 1-0 last Tuesday for their first win this season before making his first start in their narrow loss at home to Southend by the same scoreline at the weekend.

“It’s been good, I have enjoyed it,” he admitted as he reflected on his first week at Crabble.

“Every time I come into training, I just want to get my head down and keep improving.”

Gyasi says his preferred position is on the wing, saying: “My best position is on the wing, cutting in, or up front - I can be the second striker.

“I can play there, as well, and I enjoy playing (in either position).”

He showed Dover supporters glimpses of what he can do against Southend, jinxing past several players early in the second half before he blasted over the bar.

Attacker Gyasi in pre-season action for King's Lynn against MK Dons during a 3-1 defeat. Picture: Tim Smith
Attacker Gyasi in pre-season action for King's Lynn against MK Dons during a 3-1 defeat. Picture: Tim Smith

When asked about that chance, he replied: “I just went through a few players and then it literally just hit a bobble.

“I thought I’d scored, but it has hit a bobble and it’s just gone over.”

Gyasi joins Dover with the club bottom of the table and, barring a miracle, set to be relegated at the end of the campaign. They are 30 points from safety.

But he insisted: “Dover’s squad is very good. They have a few very good, technical boys.

“As you can see, they are very strong and, if we can dig in, hopefully we can get a few wins.

“I literally just want to get my head down and get as much game time as I can, as well as adding some goals and, hopefully, we can get some wins on the board.”

German-born Gyasi had joined King’s Lynn from St Ives Town in December 2020, as he linked up with a first-team squad in the top-tier of English non-league football for the first time in his career.

On his career to date, he said: “I was at Northampton, starting off there. Then at the age of 11, I got a move to Chelsea and I was there for two years, before moving onto Leicester City.

“Then I just went into non-league and got myself a move to King’s Lynn during Covid and I’ve just been trying to kick on from there, really.”

Next up for Whites is a massive test, taking on leaders Stockport this Saturday.

“The next game against Stockport is going to be a hard one,” admitted Gyasi.

“But if we play how we played on Saturday, then we can definitely get something out of the game.”

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